Tomás Ángel Bio
Tomás Ángel Gutiérrez, known professionally as Tomás Ángel, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer expansion club San Diego FC. Born in Birmingham, England, while his father was playing in the Premier League, Ángel represents Colombia at youth international level. He came through the youth system at Atlético Nacional before moving to Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC in 2024.
Standing at 174 centimeters, Ángel is a centre-forward by trade and has built his reputation on sharp finishing in and around the penalty area. He was included in The Guardian’s Next Generation 2020 list, which highlighted the best footballers born in 2003 worldwide.
Early Life and Background
Tomás Ángel Gutiérrez was born on 20 February 2003 in Birmingham, England. His father, former Colombian international striker Juan Pablo Ángel, was playing for Aston Villa in the English Premier League at the time. The English birthright gave Ángel early exposure to one of the most competitive football cultures in the world, even though his family ties to Colombia remained strong.
Ángel inherited his passion for football from his father and would often accompany him to training during Juan Pablo Ángel’s time with the New York Red Bulls. His elder brother, Gerónimo, is a musician, actor and model who appeared on the Colombian talent show La Voz Kids, while his younger brother, Pascual, is also a footballer. The three brothers were raised in England until 2007, when the family relocated to the United States.
Path to Soccer
After living in the United States until the age of ten, Ángel moved to Colombia in 2013 and joined the academy at Atlético Nacional, the former club of his father. He later transferred to Club Deportivo Estudiantil, where he developed under manager Alejandro Restrepo. During his time in the Estudiantil youth setup, Ángel regularly finished at the top of the club’s goal-scoring charts, building a strong reputation as a natural finisher.
Following good performances for the Atlético Nacional under-17 side, Ángel was invited to train with the senior squad in early 2020. His progression through the academy, combined with his prolific scoring at youth level, led to his inclusion in The Guardian’s Next Generation 2020 list, which recognized the best players born in 2003 worldwide.
Tomás Ángel Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Ángel signed his first professional contract with Atlético Nacional in January 2021 and made his senior debut the same month, coming on as a second-half substitute for Andrés Andrade in a 5–2 Categoría Primera A win over Deportivo Pereira. On 7 March 2021, he scored his first goal for the club, finishing past goalkeeper Carlos Bejarano from the edge of the area in an eventual 1–1 draw with Águilas Doradas.
After inconsistent first-team opportunities between 2021 and 2022, Ángel was deployed as a winger by manager Alejandro Restrepo rather than in his preferred centre-forward role. Following the appointment of Paulo Autuori, however, Ángel returned to the starting lineup and began the 2023 season in strong form, scoring five goals in the 2023 Torneo Apertura. His performances drew transfer interest from Spanish side Barcelona.
Atlético Nacional Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Ángel’s breakthrough at Atlético Nacional came during the 2023 Superliga Colombiana. On 16 February 2023, he came off the bench to score two goals and provide an assist in a 4–3 victory over Deportivo Pereira, helping Nacional lift the trophy. Across the early months of 2023, his combination of movement, link-up play and finishing in the box established him as one of the most exciting young forwards in Colombian football.
Despite this momentum, Ángel’s playing time became limited once again after Autuori’s departure, with manager William Amaral selecting youth player Jayder Asprilla as the first-choice centre-forward for the 2023 Torneo Finalización. Ángel departed Atlético Nacional at the end of 2023, having made multiple senior appearances and established a reputation as a clinical young striker.
Los Angeles FC Era (2024)
On 31 January 2024, Ángel joined Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, beginning his career in North American senior football. He adapted quickly to the new league, and on 22 June 2024 he scored his first MLS goal in a 6–2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. The performance signaled his arrival as a goalscoring threat at the MLS level.
On 2 August 2024, Ángel was loaned to Phoenix Rising of the USL Championship for the remainder of the 2024 season, allowing him to accumulate regular senior minutes in a competitive second-tier environment.
San Diego FC Era (2024–Present)
On 9 December 2024, Ángel was traded to expansion club San Diego FC in exchange for two hundred thousand dollars in allocation money, with San Diego also receiving a second-round pick in the 2025 MLS Superdraft. The move positioned him as a key attacking piece for the club’s inaugural MLS campaign.
Heading into his first full season with San Diego FC, Ángel is expected to compete for a starting role as a centre-forward. His prior MLS experience with Los Angeles FC, combined with his track record in Colombia, gives him a strong foundation to contribute to the expansion side’s attacking identity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ángel is a natural centre-forward whose primary strengths lie in his movement inside the penalty area, calm finishing from inside the box, and ability to link play with attacking midfielders. Comfortable receiving the ball with his back to goal and spinning defenders, he combines technical sharpness with intelligent positioning, traits shaped by his years in the Atlético Nacional academy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most significant early achievements, Ángel won the 2023 Superliga Colombiana with Atlético Nacional after scoring twice in the final, and was named to The Guardian’s Next Generation 2020 list as one of the top players born in 2003. He also represented Colombia at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring against Japan and providing two goals in a 5–1 round-of-16 win over Slovakia.
Tomás Ángel Career Wins
Tomás Ángel has compiled a series of notable team and individual achievements across Colombian football, North American soccer and the international youth stage. His honours include a senior title in Colombia, an international youth tournament appearance, and recognition on one of global football’s most respected young-player lists.
Atlético Nacional Highlights
During his time with Atlético Nacional, Ángel’s standout contribution came in the 2023 Superliga Colombiana, where he scored two goals and provided an assist in the final against Deportivo Pereira to help secure a 4–3 victory and the trophy. He also registered five goals during the 2023 Torneo Apertura, a run that attracted transfer attention from European clubs.
Other Wins and Performances
At international youth level, Ángel represented Colombia at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring against Japan and contributing two goals in a 5–1 round-of-16 win over Slovakia. At club level with Phoenix Rising, he gained valuable experience in the USL Championship during the second half of the 2024 season.
Tomás Ángel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tomás Ángel comes from a family with deep ties to professional football. His father, Juan Pablo Ángel, is a retired Colombian striker who played for clubs including Aston Villa, New York Red Bulls and Atlético Nacional. His younger brother, Pascual, is also a professional footballer, while his elder brother, Gerónimo, pursued a career in music, acting and modeling, including an appearance on the Colombian talent show La Voz Kids.
Personal Life
Born in England while his father was playing in the Premier League, Ángel moved to the United States with his family in 2007 and later relocated to Colombia in 2013 to pursue his football development. He continues to represent Colombia internationally, having featured for the country’s under-20 side at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a defining chapter in Tomás Ángel’s career as he joins San Diego FC for the club’s first-ever Major League Soccer campaign. Acquired via trade from Los Angeles FC in December 2024, he arrives as one of the expansion side’s most experienced young attacking options. His transition from a depth role in Los Angeles to a likely starting centre-forward role gives him a clear platform to demonstrate his goalscoring ability on a consistent basis.
Throughout the early months of the season, San Diego FC will look to Ángel to provide the cutting edge in the final third, drawing on his experience of senior football in Colombia and Major League Soccer. His prior scoring form in Categoría Primera A and his debut MLS goal against San Jose Earthquakes suggest he has the finishing instincts required to lead the line for an expansion side seeking to establish itself in the league.
Beyond his club duties, Ángel’s performances in 2025 could also shape his pathway back into the senior Colombian national team setup. A productive season with San Diego FC would not only reinforce his reputation in Major League Soccer but also strengthen his case for a senior international call-up in the years ahead.